What does ic mean?

IC, or integrated circuit, is a semiconductor manufacturing process that uses a small single-crystal silicon wafer to manufacture many transistors, resistors, capacitors and other components, and combines the components into a complete electronic circuit using multi-layer wiring or tunnel wiring. It is represented by the letter "IC" (also used as the letter symbol "N", etc.) in the circuit.

Definition of IC

IC is a general term for semiconductor component products, including: 1. Integrated circuit board (IC); 2. Diodes and transistors; 3. Special electronic components.

Classification of ICs

1. Classification by functional structure

Integrated circuits can be divided into two categories: analog integrated circuits and digital integrated circuits according to their functions and structures.

Analog integrated circuits are used to generate, amplify and process various analog signals (signals whose amplitude varies with time. For example, the audio signal of a semiconductor radio, the tape signal of a recorder, etc.), while digital integrated circuits are used to generate, amplify and process various digital signals (signals that take discrete values ​​in time and amplitude. For example, the audio and video signals played back by VCDs and DVDs).

Basic analog integrated circuits include operational amplifiers, multipliers, integrated voltage regulators, timers, signal generators, etc. There are many types of digital integrated circuits. Small-scale integrated circuits have a variety of gate circuits, namely NAND gates, NOT gates, OR gates, etc.; medium-scale integrated circuits have data selectors, encoders and decoders, triggers, counters, registers, etc. Large-scale or ultra-large-scale integrated circuits include PLDs (programmable logic devices) and ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits).

From the perspective of PLD and ASIC, the distinction between components, devices, circuits, and systems is no longer very strict. Moreover, the PLD device itself is just a hardware carrier, and different circuit functions can be realized by loading different programs. Therefore, modern devices are no longer pure hardware. Software devices and corresponding software electronics have been widely used in modern electronic design, and their status is becoming more and more important.

There are many kinds of circuit components. With the continuous improvement of electronic technology and process level, a large number of new components continue to appear. The same component also has multiple packaging forms. For example, SMD components can be seen everywhere in modern electronic products. For different use environments, the same component also has different industrial standards. Domestic components usually have three standards, namely: civil standards, industrial standards, and military standards. Different standards have different prices. The price of military standard components may be ten times or even more than that of civil standards. Industrial standards are between the two.

(II) Classification by production process

Integrated circuits can be divided into semiconductor integrated circuits and thin film integrated circuits according to the manufacturing process.

Film integrated circuits are further classified into thick film integrated circuits and thin film integrated circuits.

(III) Classification by degree of integration

Integrated circuits are divided into small-scale integrated circuits (SSI), medium-scale integrated circuits (MSI), large-scale integrated circuits (LSI), very large-scale integrated circuits (VLSI), and ultra-large-scale integrated circuits (ULSI) according to their size.

(IV) Classification by conductivity type

Integrated circuits can be divided into bipolar integrated circuits and unipolar integrated circuits according to their conductivity type.

The manufacturing process of bipolar integrated circuits is complex and the power consumption is high. Representative integrated circuits include TTL, ECL, HTL, LST-TL, STTL, etc. The manufacturing process of unipolar integrated circuits is simple and the power consumption is low. They are easy to make into large-scale integrated circuits. Representative integrated circuits include CMOS, NMOS, PMOS, etc.

(V) Classification by purpose

Integrated circuits can be divided into integrated circuits for televisions, integrated circuits for audio, integrated circuits for DVD players, integrated circuits for video recorders, integrated circuits for computers (microcomputers), integrated circuits for electronic keyboards, integrated circuits for communications, integrated circuits for cameras, remote control integrated circuits, language integrated circuits, integrated circuits for alarms, and various special integrated circuits according to their uses.

Integrated circuits used in televisions include line and field scanning integrated circuits, center channel integrated circuits, audio integrated circuits, color decoding integrated circuits, AV/TV conversion integrated circuits, switching power supply integrated circuits, remote control integrated circuits, NIC decoding integrated circuits, picture-in-picture processing integrated circuits, microprocessor (CPU) integrated circuits, memory integrated circuits, etc.

Integrated circuits for audio include AM/FM high-mid frequency circuits, stereo decoding circuits, audio preamplifier circuits, audio operational amplifier integrated circuits, audio power amplifier integrated circuits, surround sound processing integrated circuits, level drive integrated circuits, electronic volume control integrated circuits, delay reverberation integrated circuits, electronic switch integrated circuits, etc.

Integrated circuits used in DVD players include system control integrated circuits, video encoding integrated circuits, MPEG decoding integrated circuits, audio signal processing integrated circuits, sound effect integrated circuits, RF signal processing integrated circuits, digital signal processing integrated circuits, servo integrated circuits, motor drive integrated circuits, etc.

Integrated circuits used in video recorders include system control integrated circuits, servo integrated circuits, driver integrated circuits, audio processing integrated circuits, and video processing integrated circuits.